Lung disease treatment: Minister orders supply of essential medicines

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr. Jamal Nasir has asked the citizens to call the helpline 1033 for getting information and guidance about treatment of various non-communicable diseases.

In connection with the World COPD Day, the minister was chairing a meeting to review the facilities available for the treatment of respiratory and lung diseases in government hospitals across Punjab, on Wednesday. COPD or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. The meeting was attended by Director General Health Services, Punjab, Dr Ilyas Gondal and other officers concerned.

The minister directed for ensuring supply of sufficient quantity of oxygen and essential medicines in all district and tehsil headquarters hospitals for possible treatment of respiratory and lungs diseases.

Dr Jamal said that healthy lungs were a sign of healthy life. He called upon the citizens to wear face mask to save their lungs from dust and smoke. Lungs get severely affected and later on permanently damaged due to air pollution and smoking, he added. Dr. Jamal Nasir said that COPD or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was incurable, but the severity of its harmful effects could be reduced by prevention and caution.

He said that smoking was the main cause of lung diseases. Besides, it could also be caused by cigar smoke, pipe smoke and second hand smoke. If a smoker has asthma, the chances of him being affected by this disease were significantly higher.

Dr. Jamal Nasir said that controlling smoking and other causes was important to prevent lung and respiratory diseases. For this purpose, there was a need to raise awareness among the people, he emphasised.